1 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 1: It's hard to believe I could catch Mike Tarico to 2 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:10,680 Speaker 1: sit down to talk, because for the next few weeks 3 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:14,240 Speaker 1: he will be very busy posting the biggest events in 4 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:17,400 Speaker 1: sports back to back. He will be in California to 5 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:20,800 Speaker 1: call Super Bowl sixty and that same day he will 6 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:25,479 Speaker 1: begin coverage of the Winter Olympics in Milan, Cortina. Mike 7 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 1: is synonymous with sports journalism, leading NBC's coverage of football, basketball, baseball, golf, 8 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:36,559 Speaker 1: and major events like the Kentucky Derby. I'm excited to 9 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:38,559 Speaker 1: have him here today to talk about some of the 10 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:42,120 Speaker 1: amazing sports he's covered over the years, what to expect 11 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 1: out of the big Super Bowl game, and what he's 12 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:48,640 Speaker 1: looking forward to seeing in Milan. Welcome to my podcast, Mike. 13 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:51,720 Speaker 2: This is the highlight of my pre Super Bowl Martha. 14 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 2: It's so great to be back with you. I've missed you. 15 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 1: I missed you too. I understand that we are going 16 00:00:56,960 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 1: to be together again in Milan. I know Snoop and 17 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:04,440 Speaker 1: I are going to do some more reporting. I just 18 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:06,280 Speaker 1: want to brag. Did you know that we won an 19 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:10,160 Speaker 1: Emmy for our sports coverage of the dressage at the Olympics. 20 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:11,119 Speaker 2: Yes, I do. 21 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 1: It's we won an Emmy. 22 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 2: I have to tell you, Martha, I'm not kidding. I 23 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 2: get asked more often than any other question, what's it 24 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:24,640 Speaker 2: like to work with Snoop and Martha. I told them, 25 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 2: I said, it's the most amazing thing because you're sitting there, 26 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:29,640 Speaker 2: you're getting ready for the segment. You take these segments, 27 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 2: and Snoop and Martha really get along. They love to 28 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 2: be around each other, and I just think it's so neat. 29 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 1: I'm so excited about going over to the Olympics, really, 30 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:43,680 Speaker 1: and I'm so excited about viewing all the wonderful skating. Yes, 31 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 1: some of the most watch sporting events ever in history. 32 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 1: The skating at the Olympics. 33 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 2: It is and America has always loved our figure skaters. 34 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 2: Go back to Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, remember that. 35 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:00,720 Speaker 1: I remember, right, so beautiful and what they're doing now. 36 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 1: I don't understand how the human body can twist and 37 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 1: turn and fly the way they're doing nowadays. It's incredible. 38 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:11,079 Speaker 2: And that's why those of us who cover sports love sports, 39 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 2: because every time you think you've seen the best of 40 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:19,280 Speaker 2: the best, the human body, training the mind, the curiosity 41 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 2: to push limits changes that next level of what we've seen, 42 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:26,959 Speaker 2: the joy of watching human beings push themselves. And you're 43 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:29,160 Speaker 2: right about the figure skating. Do you remember when when 44 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 2: Dorothy Hamill, when her haircut became the big thing? 45 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 1: Oh of course, right, everybody wanted that haircut. 46 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:37,880 Speaker 2: That's the power of the Olympics and the legacy of 47 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 2: figure skating in the US. And you're gonna find this 48 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 2: hard to believe, Martha. It's been twenty years since an 49 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 2: American wonna medal in figure skating for the women at 50 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:49,320 Speaker 2: the Olympics. 51 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:51,799 Speaker 1: And they have a very good chance this here. Don't 52 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 1: think we do. 53 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:54,920 Speaker 2: Maybe you should be hosting the Olympics. You know more 54 00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 2: about this than I do. 55 00:02:57,520 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 1: Let's talk about Super Bowl. I can't believe it's Super 56 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:00,800 Speaker 1: Bowl sixty. 57 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:03,720 Speaker 2: I know super Bowl l X. 58 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 1: Now everybody has to bone up on their Roman numerals. 59 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:08,960 Speaker 1: How many have you reported on? 60 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:14,000 Speaker 2: Wow? So I've been to about half of them. I 61 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 2: worked at ESPN for a long time. It would go 62 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:19,080 Speaker 2: ever year to cover the Super Bowl with ESPN. For 63 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 2: ABC when I worked there, I was a part of 64 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 2: three Super Bowl broadcasts in the pregame show, and for 65 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:26,280 Speaker 2: NBC I've been a part of one. I was a 66 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:28,680 Speaker 2: part of Super Bowl fifty six. This will be the 67 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 2: first time for me that I'm announcing the Super Bowl, 68 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 2: So I would say probably, Martha, I've been to about 69 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:38,480 Speaker 2: twenty five or twenty six or so of the fifty nine. 70 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 2: Now to be sixty. 71 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 1: You are calling the Super Bowl in California on Sunday 72 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 1: and then you are flying to Milan to host the 73 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 1: Olympics that. 74 00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 2: Very day, right, So it's going to be busy. 75 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 1: How do you manage reporting both events in the different 76 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 1: countries and time zones. 77 00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, I think a lot of it is the 78 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 2: time before getting before we get to those events, And 79 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 2: for me, a lot of that has been already done, 80 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 2: even last year covering the World Figure Skating Championships in 81 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 2: Boston so I could see all the skaters. I went 82 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 2: over to Milan last week to go see our setup 83 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 2: and go see the city before the Olympic Games. 84 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 1: Well, let's go a little bit of your background, because 85 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 1: you know so much about so many sports. How did 86 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:26,559 Speaker 1: you fall in love with sports in the first place. 87 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:29,680 Speaker 2: Oh? Well, I grew up in New York in Queens, 88 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 2: and I grew up with a single mom. Before that 89 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:35,280 Speaker 2: was really something that a lot of people were doing 90 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:37,479 Speaker 2: My mom was great raised me. I lived in a 91 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:40,920 Speaker 2: house with my grandparents. They lived upstairs, we lived downstairs. 92 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:44,040 Speaker 2: I loved sports, but I was never the best athlete. 93 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:47,159 Speaker 2: I wasn't even a good athlete, Martha. In high school, 94 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:49,279 Speaker 2: when I realized I wasn't going to make my baseball team, 95 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:52,120 Speaker 2: I had one of two options, either sports medicine or 96 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:56,040 Speaker 2: sports journalism to keep involved with sports. I went down 97 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:58,480 Speaker 2: the road to sports journalism. I went to Syracuse University, 98 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:01,839 Speaker 2: which has a great program for journalism. 99 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 1: And oh so great yeah for. 100 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:07,359 Speaker 2: Sports journalists, especially Marv Albert, Bob Costas, who I know 101 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:10,800 Speaker 2: that you know of so well. Many announcers went to Syracuse, 102 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:14,400 Speaker 2: and I was first generation college in my family. So 103 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 2: was lucky enough that people sacrifice to help me get there, 104 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:20,200 Speaker 2: had the opportunity to start falling in love with this, 105 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 2: and I went from there to local TV and Syracuse 106 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:26,560 Speaker 2: to ESPN for twenty five years and now ten years 107 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 2: at NBC and just kind of keep climbing and keep 108 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:32,039 Speaker 2: working and keep living the dream. I've been very, very lucky. 109 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:34,159 Speaker 1: What was your sport when you did play sports? 110 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:36,719 Speaker 2: Baseball is the sport I played the most. I'm still 111 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 2: not a great athlete. 112 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:39,600 Speaker 1: Are you one of these crazy guys that knows all 113 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 1: the statistics? 114 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:42,920 Speaker 2: Also, that was me. I was a nerd and still 115 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 2: I'm a nerd, and proudly so. With our two kids 116 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 2: and my wife being an athlete and our dog, I'm 117 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:51,840 Speaker 2: the fifth most athletic person in our family. So that's fine. 118 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:54,680 Speaker 2: I've come to accept it, and so I just sit 119 00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:56,839 Speaker 2: on my butt and talk about sports instead of playing. 120 00:05:56,880 --> 00:06:00,120 Speaker 1: But the most knowledgeable about sports in your family. 121 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:03,479 Speaker 2: Don't let them hear that you said that, because they'll disagree. 122 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 1: How would you describe your style of sports commentary? That's 123 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:08,000 Speaker 1: what I'd like to know. 124 00:06:08,279 --> 00:06:11,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, I hope that we speak with the audience and 125 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:13,600 Speaker 2: not to the audience. You know this, Martha, there are 126 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 2: so many entertainment opportunities out there. You can just push 127 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 2: a button and watch Peacock or Netflix or Hulu, you 128 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 2: name it, and there's something to watch. So people come 129 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:28,240 Speaker 2: to sports for the live event, the competition, the energy 130 00:06:28,279 --> 00:06:31,359 Speaker 2: of the venue, and hopefully we can be the conduit 131 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 2: between the event and the fans who can't be there 132 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:37,039 Speaker 2: and help them enjoy it, maybe stay around a little 133 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:39,360 Speaker 2: bit longer. I had a great boss who once said 134 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 2: that our job is to document, inform, and entertain. If 135 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:45,479 Speaker 2: we could do all of those and just pull the 136 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 2: right lever at the right moment, then maybe we can 137 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:50,839 Speaker 2: keep the audience around. And that's the way I go 138 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 2: into this. Nobody's turning on the game because I'm calling it. 139 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:55,520 Speaker 2: You watch because it's the teams you want to watch, 140 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:57,880 Speaker 2: and hopefully when you watch, we help you enjoy it 141 00:06:57,920 --> 00:06:58,599 Speaker 2: a little bit more. 142 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 1: This there's an exciting lineup. I mean, this is amazing 143 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 1: to have the Patriots back. Since when was the last 144 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:06,360 Speaker 1: time they won? To get a super Bowl? Eleven years ago? 145 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:08,480 Speaker 2: Is it? It's been a little bit shorter than that, 146 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 2: But it hasn't been long. They won back from seven 147 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 2: years ago after the Tom Brady year ended. What's really neat, 148 00:07:14,240 --> 00:07:16,880 Speaker 2: Martha is nobody who knows about a super Bowl party 149 00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 2: like you, and the Patriots are the most common guests 150 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 2: at a super Bowl party. This is their twelfth of 151 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:25,000 Speaker 2: the sixty and nobody else has been to more than eight. 152 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 1: Oh really, so they're the oh boy, that's so great. 153 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:29,360 Speaker 2: They're the guest that always invites themselves. 154 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:33,240 Speaker 1: So this is your first Super Bowl play by play? 155 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:33,600 Speaker 2: Yes? 156 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 1: How is play by play different from color analysis? And 157 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:40,080 Speaker 1: how do you prepare differently for a play by play? 158 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:43,680 Speaker 2: Sure? Sure, So usually our broadcast have three or four 159 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 2: people a sideline reporter, and this is for the Super Bowl. 160 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:49,000 Speaker 2: We have two Melissa Stark and Kayleie heart Sung and 161 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 2: Chris Collinsworth is our color analyst. Is that color analyst, 162 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:54,960 Speaker 2: that's the person who played the game or coached the game. 163 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:56,160 Speaker 2: They're the ones who tell you. 164 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 1: Why it's a weird thing to say color analysis. I 165 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:02,240 Speaker 1: was right, exactly, So just describe what that means. 166 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 2: So I guess of the old days, I guess what 167 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:06,640 Speaker 2: it was called color commentary. They provide the color, they 168 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:09,360 Speaker 2: provide the why it's happening, a little bit of the 169 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 2: how it's happening. They provide the color, We provide the facts. 170 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:16,200 Speaker 2: We just provide the play by play, if you will. 171 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:18,680 Speaker 2: We call each play and they tell you why it 172 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 2: happened or how it happened. That's I think the genesis 173 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 2: of how it became known as a color analyst. So 174 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:26,240 Speaker 2: I always tell somebody new when they come into the 175 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:30,000 Speaker 2: business as a former player or coach. My job, our 176 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 2: job as play by play announcers is we handle what 177 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 2: you handle, how and why and that's the kind of 178 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:38,200 Speaker 2: back and forth. It doesn't mean Chris doesn't know the 179 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:40,720 Speaker 2: what or I don't know the how and why. But 180 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:43,439 Speaker 2: if we can make our two roles into a conversation 181 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:45,800 Speaker 2: where you're listening to the two of us watching the 182 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:48,720 Speaker 2: game out loud, and you are invited in as that 183 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 2: third person, then hopefully we've hit the right chemistry for 184 00:08:52,679 --> 00:08:53,240 Speaker 2: a broadcast. 185 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:55,559 Speaker 1: So how many of you are reporting on the Super Bowl? 186 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:58,920 Speaker 2: In addition to the behind the scenes, we'll have three 187 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:02,360 Speaker 2: or four hundred folks from NBC there. The whole pregame 188 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:05,839 Speaker 2: show is there. They do five hours before the game, 189 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:10,280 Speaker 2: so they have I think eight people total in front 190 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:12,720 Speaker 2: of the camera during the five hours and there's just 191 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:15,280 Speaker 2: as you as we all know, the legion of people 192 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 2: behind them supporting them in production and logistics and engineering and. 193 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:22,479 Speaker 1: All of that stuff, all the cameras, all that amazing 194 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:23,440 Speaker 1: work that they do. 195 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:26,320 Speaker 2: Oh, I love it exactly. And on a week to 196 00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:29,240 Speaker 2: week basis, we're a traveling circus. You know, there are 197 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:31,960 Speaker 2: a half dozen trucks that travel from the site of 198 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:35,280 Speaker 2: Sunday Night Football to the next site, you know, with 199 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:37,520 Speaker 2: local hires between one hundred and fifty and two hundred 200 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 2: folks who help us put on the game every single week, 201 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:47,480 Speaker 2: and every small detail from microphones to wardrobe, to cameras 202 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 2: to the camera that flies above the field, all of 203 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:52,240 Speaker 2: that is part of that massive group. 204 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: So it's a little more complicated than a Taylor Swift concert. 205 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 2: It's a moving feast, right with a crew every weekday 206 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:04,640 Speaker 2: unpacked the six trucks. Wow, we set up an office, 207 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:06,920 Speaker 2: we call the game, pack it back up and go 208 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:09,720 Speaker 2: somewhere else around the country. So it's it's amazing how 209 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:12,040 Speaker 2: the games get back to us at home, and only 210 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:13,559 Speaker 2: when you see it from the other side do you 211 00:10:13,640 --> 00:10:16,080 Speaker 2: understand the undertaking that. It really is. 212 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:20,560 Speaker 1: Very exciting, very excited. I was trying to remember how 213 00:10:20,559 --> 00:10:22,600 Speaker 1: many Super Bowls I have been. I have been to 214 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 1: probably at least twenty. 215 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:26,160 Speaker 2: Oh wow, is that right. You were at the one 216 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:28,800 Speaker 2: in Las Vegas a few years ago, weren't you. Oh yeah, yeah, 217 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:30,600 Speaker 2: I remember. We that was fun. 218 00:10:30,679 --> 00:10:33,360 Speaker 1: That was a very fun one. It was camp I 219 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:36,960 Speaker 1: remember going to tamp I remember going to Phoenix. You know, 220 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 1: I've been all over the place. 221 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:41,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's fun. So the Las Vegas one was fun. 222 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:43,960 Speaker 2: You know, there's so many corporate events at Super Bowls, 223 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 2: and we had one with Jerry Rice and it was 224 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:49,840 Speaker 2: at your restaurant out there in Las Vegas, and oh 225 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:52,760 Speaker 2: my gosh, that was That was the best pre Super 226 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 2: Bowl meal I've had. Thank you. So this is great. 227 00:10:56,320 --> 00:10:59,920 Speaker 2: That was so much fun. I loved it. 228 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:09,880 Speaker 1: So how do you work with your co hosts and 229 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:12,640 Speaker 1: your co commentator zone? How do you read each other's 230 00:11:12,679 --> 00:11:14,560 Speaker 1: cues and stay in sync with each other. 231 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:18,640 Speaker 2: It's a fun question because I like to equate what 232 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:21,679 Speaker 2: we do to a three and a half hour open 233 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:26,080 Speaker 2: book test. We study for the week before the game 234 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:28,319 Speaker 2: and for the Super Bowl it's two weeks, and you 235 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:31,280 Speaker 2: interview the players, you go to practice, you read everything 236 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 2: that's written during the two weeks, and then you kind 237 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:36,760 Speaker 2: of distill it with your opinions and your vision of 238 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:40,880 Speaker 2: what is happening for the audience. So it's really important 239 00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:44,599 Speaker 2: to know what our color commentator, our analyst Chris Collinsworth, 240 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:48,600 Speaker 2: who's won seventeen Emmys during his great career and played 241 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:51,040 Speaker 2: in two Super Bowls. It's important for me to know 242 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:54,080 Speaker 2: what Chris is thinking and how he's approaching the game. 243 00:11:54,280 --> 00:11:58,280 Speaker 2: So I on a regular basis am listening to Chris 244 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:01,840 Speaker 2: and our meetings, asking him questions, and usually what gets 245 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:04,560 Speaker 2: on TV are the things that we talk about during 246 00:12:04,559 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 2: the week, and when something happens, I know Chris was 247 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:09,760 Speaker 2: talking about that during the week, so I know exactly 248 00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:13,240 Speaker 2: what to ask him or how to further the conversation 249 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:16,559 Speaker 2: so the person at home understands what Chris is talking about. 250 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:18,880 Speaker 1: So you have a script without really having a script. 251 00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:20,720 Speaker 1: You have to go in there and you have to 252 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:23,880 Speaker 1: know every player, the idiosyncrasies of every player. You have 253 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:26,720 Speaker 1: to know the play. Probably you could coach if you 254 00:12:26,800 --> 00:12:29,280 Speaker 1: had to, Probably not. 255 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:31,720 Speaker 2: Well, but could I could fake my way through it. 256 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:34,600 Speaker 2: The big thing for us is memorizing the numbers of 257 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:39,440 Speaker 2: all ninety six players in the game, recognizing those, calling 258 00:12:39,480 --> 00:12:43,199 Speaker 2: them out, pointing out a key statistic for them if 259 00:12:43,240 --> 00:12:46,679 Speaker 2: it's appropriate, and also trying to tell stories about them, 260 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:49,920 Speaker 2: like everyone loves the story of the person who's from 261 00:12:49,920 --> 00:12:52,120 Speaker 2: a town of five hundred and one people. If it 262 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:55,120 Speaker 2: was a team that Green Bay Packers had a player 263 00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:57,560 Speaker 2: who was like that. So what I do in the 264 00:12:57,600 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 2: week before the Super Bowl is you kind of look 265 00:12:59,679 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 2: for those stories and our research team finds those, and 266 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 2: then when you get on site, you try to ask 267 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:07,640 Speaker 2: those people about. Tell me about your hometown. Everybody likes 268 00:13:07,679 --> 00:13:10,280 Speaker 2: to hear the story of how somebody got there. Right. 269 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:15,480 Speaker 1: Well, of course, success, especially in sports is so enticing, yeah, 270 00:13:15,559 --> 00:13:16,920 Speaker 1: and so inspiring. 271 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:18,679 Speaker 2: That's what it is. And you hope that there's some 272 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:22,760 Speaker 2: young man or young woman because flag football is becoming 273 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 2: very prominent now in the high schools and it's going 274 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:27,920 Speaker 2: to be in the Olympics in Los Angeles in two years. 275 00:13:28,280 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 2: You hope that there's somebody out there who's watching, who 276 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:34,360 Speaker 2: hears that story and they see themselves and they can 277 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:36,760 Speaker 2: be the next story twenty twenty five years from now. 278 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:40,080 Speaker 1: Well, do you think the Seahawks of Seattle Seahawks have 279 00:13:40,160 --> 00:13:42,120 Speaker 1: a score to settle with the Patriots. 280 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:47,559 Speaker 2: Yes, yes they do. They do. Super Bowl forty nine 281 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:51,880 Speaker 2: was played, the Patriots won. Seattle was trying to win 282 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:55,160 Speaker 2: back to back Super Bowls. And what happened in that 283 00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:57,560 Speaker 2: game was they got right down to the one yard 284 00:13:57,600 --> 00:14:00,920 Speaker 2: line in the final minute of the game, and they 285 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:04,120 Speaker 2: had one of the best running backs called Marshawn Lynch. 286 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:07,480 Speaker 2: And most people think if they would have handed it 287 00:14:07,520 --> 00:14:09,840 Speaker 2: to him once or maybe twice, they would have scored 288 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:11,760 Speaker 2: the touchdown to go ahead. And Tom Brady and the 289 00:14:11,760 --> 00:14:14,000 Speaker 2: Patriots would not have had a lot of time or 290 00:14:14,040 --> 00:14:18,040 Speaker 2: timeouts to come back. Instead, Russell Wilson was the quarterback 291 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:20,560 Speaker 2: and he threw a pass and was intercepted by a 292 00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:23,320 Speaker 2: player named Malcolm Butler, who was not a high profile 293 00:14:23,360 --> 00:14:25,680 Speaker 2: player for the Patriots. He was one of their backup 294 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:30,160 Speaker 2: defensive backs. And it's the disappointment that lives with Seattle 295 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:32,239 Speaker 2: fans for generations. 296 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:34,480 Speaker 1: Wasn't that a last second interception the last. 297 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 2: Thirty seconds of the game. Yeah. The Patriots always find 298 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:39,520 Speaker 2: a way to win these close Super Bowls, and they 299 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:42,280 Speaker 2: found another way to win a close one. It's a 300 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:44,560 Speaker 2: disappointment that if you bring it up to anybody in Seattle, 301 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:47,000 Speaker 2: they know where they were, they know who they were 302 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:50,800 Speaker 2: watching with. They still say it's soul crushing to them. So, 303 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:52,840 Speaker 2: of course they get back to the Super Bowl for 304 00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:56,080 Speaker 2: the first time since and they're the Patriots waiting for them. 305 00:14:56,200 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 1: Boy, So which team has the defensive advantage this year? 306 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:03,160 Speaker 2: All right, we'll getting to the football hardcore stuff. They're 307 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:07,160 Speaker 2: both really good defenses. Seattle defense is a little bit better. 308 00:15:07,560 --> 00:15:11,000 Speaker 2: What's interesting, Martha is neither team has a player that 309 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:13,800 Speaker 2: you would say he is one of the best defensive 310 00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:17,120 Speaker 2: players in the league. They have very good defensive players, 311 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:21,960 Speaker 2: but both coaches are defensive coaches. The head coaches that 312 00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:24,640 Speaker 2: becomes the fingerprint for a team. Very often, if you 313 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 2: have a head coach who's experience with on offense, they 314 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 2: usually become a good offensive team. In this case, both 315 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:35,960 Speaker 2: head coaches experienced on defense. Mike Rabel from the Patriots 316 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:39,600 Speaker 2: played and won three Super Bowls with New England and 317 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:42,200 Speaker 2: was one of their better defensive players during that time. 318 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:45,160 Speaker 2: Mike McDonald, who's the coach of the Seattle Seahawks, did 319 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:49,200 Speaker 2: not play in professional football, but he has been a 320 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 2: good architect and coach of defenses. They have the statistically 321 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:57,520 Speaker 2: better defense, but New England's defense has not let a 322 00:15:57,520 --> 00:16:01,080 Speaker 2: lot of teams have a great season. One thing about 323 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 2: this Super Bowl that's a big question for a lot 324 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:06,360 Speaker 2: of folks, Martha. New England did not play many good 325 00:16:06,360 --> 00:16:09,760 Speaker 2: teams during the regular season. They only played a couple 326 00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:11,480 Speaker 2: of teams who were winning records. 327 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:13,880 Speaker 1: Now, who were the top six teams this year? 328 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:16,840 Speaker 2: So the top six teams, you'd have Denver and New 329 00:16:16,880 --> 00:16:21,120 Speaker 2: England in the AFC. I would say Houston and Jacksonville 330 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:23,280 Speaker 2: were the next two best in the AFC and Buffalo 331 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:26,080 Speaker 2: who you mentioned before, and in the NFC the other 332 00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:29,720 Speaker 2: side where Seattle is Seattle, the Los Angeles Rams, the 333 00:16:29,840 --> 00:16:33,840 Speaker 2: Chicago Bears had a great resurgenciason this year, Philadelphia who 334 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:35,680 Speaker 2: won the Super Bowl a year ago. Those are the 335 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:38,680 Speaker 2: best teams in the NFC, and San Francisco also had 336 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:43,200 Speaker 2: a good year as well. So Seattle played two games 337 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:46,880 Speaker 2: in their division, so four games total against Los Angeles 338 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:49,960 Speaker 2: Rams and San Francisco, and they beat both of those 339 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 2: teams in the playoffs, so they're really more. They've played 340 00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:56,520 Speaker 2: tougher games than New England did. Now, a Patriots fan 341 00:16:56,560 --> 00:16:58,840 Speaker 2: will tell you, we don't make the schedule, You just 342 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:02,080 Speaker 2: play who's on your schedule before the season starts, and 343 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:05,480 Speaker 2: they're right about that. So they have proven in these 344 00:17:05,520 --> 00:17:09,280 Speaker 2: playoffs that they've played against good teams like the Los 345 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:12,800 Speaker 2: Angeles Chargers in Houston and Denver and beaten them. So 346 00:17:13,280 --> 00:17:16,040 Speaker 2: they are very deserving and worthy. But if there's one question, 347 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:19,040 Speaker 2: Seattle was probably the best team that New England has 348 00:17:19,080 --> 00:17:23,440 Speaker 2: played all year, and can their offense do a good 349 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:24,960 Speaker 2: job against Seattle's defense. 350 00:17:25,440 --> 00:17:30,600 Speaker 1: So we have two quarterbacks making their first Super Bowl appearances, 351 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:31,280 Speaker 1: that's new. 352 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:33,080 Speaker 2: It's really cool. 353 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 1: And Drake May's a second year quarterback, I understand. And 354 00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:43,440 Speaker 1: Sam Darnold has played on five teams in eight years. Wow, 355 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:44,359 Speaker 1: he's moved around. 356 00:17:45,320 --> 00:17:47,640 Speaker 2: And he started with the Jets there in New York 357 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:50,760 Speaker 2: and his first pass in the NFL, his first pass 358 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:53,840 Speaker 2: ever was an interception that was returned for a touchdown 359 00:17:54,440 --> 00:17:57,439 Speaker 2: and that kind of typified what his Jets career was 360 00:17:57,480 --> 00:17:59,440 Speaker 2: going to be. But the Jets have had a lot 361 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:01,440 Speaker 2: of a lot of bad luck for a lot of years. 362 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:04,399 Speaker 2: So Sam Donald's on his fourth team in four years. 363 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:07,160 Speaker 2: He played really well with Minnesota last year, but they 364 00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:09,240 Speaker 2: had a young quarterback who was injured and they wanted 365 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:12,440 Speaker 2: to give him the shot. So Sam Donald was available 366 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:16,080 Speaker 2: and Seattle acquired him and he's had a great year. 367 00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:18,040 Speaker 2: But can I tell you about the new England quarterback? 368 00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:21,320 Speaker 2: Is this story you would love? Is this Drake Drake May? 369 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:24,920 Speaker 2: So he's twenty two, twenty three years old, his young kid. 370 00:18:25,320 --> 00:18:29,120 Speaker 2: He's played at North Carolina, was good there, played last 371 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:32,119 Speaker 2: year and did well for the Patriots, but then the 372 00:18:32,119 --> 00:18:35,879 Speaker 2: Patriots hired a new coach. But this year he's had 373 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:38,600 Speaker 2: a great season and the best part of his story. 374 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:44,520 Speaker 2: He is married to his middle school sweetheart. So they 375 00:18:44,600 --> 00:18:47,879 Speaker 2: met at age twelve, and her name is Anne Michael. 376 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:53,360 Speaker 2: She Martha for Christmas, she ended up doing an online 377 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:57,440 Speaker 2: baking show every day, so she would cook something, bake 378 00:18:57,520 --> 00:19:00,960 Speaker 2: something some Christmas treat right up your alley every single 379 00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 2: day and posted on social media. And it became popular 380 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:07,840 Speaker 2: with the New England fans, with the moms of New 381 00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:10,800 Speaker 2: England fans. And when some fans would go on there 382 00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:15,119 Speaker 2: and say things like the fans who were enjoying her 383 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:17,560 Speaker 2: cooking and say, hey, let's not mess this up, let's 384 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:19,399 Speaker 2: keep let's let her keep doing this. Let this be 385 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:22,240 Speaker 2: a fun experience. And she did as she called it, 386 00:19:22,320 --> 00:19:25,800 Speaker 2: bake miss, and she baked something for every day at 387 00:19:25,840 --> 00:19:29,040 Speaker 2: Christmas online. They are an adorable couple and it's just 388 00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:30,840 Speaker 2: really a cute, cute and neat story. 389 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:33,320 Speaker 1: Good see, there's a nice human interest story that you're 390 00:19:33,359 --> 00:19:36,680 Speaker 1: telling us. And as your charm, you are a charming commentator. 391 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:40,040 Speaker 1: You know, women have not been the biggest viewers of 392 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:42,960 Speaker 1: the Super Bowl, but more and more and more they. 393 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:45,640 Speaker 2: Are, Yes, they are. How come it's a lot of things. 394 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:47,720 Speaker 2: I'll start with just what I know under my roof 395 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:50,640 Speaker 2: when my wife played basketball in college. There are more 396 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 2: women who have been athletes through their high school and 397 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:58,639 Speaker 2: college careers than forty fifty years ago. Title nine changed 398 00:19:58,680 --> 00:20:00,720 Speaker 2: so much in our country. I think that's one of 399 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:03,919 Speaker 2: the biggest impacts on sports. So so many women not 400 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:10,520 Speaker 2: only enjoy the competition, they love the strategy. They love 401 00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 2: the players who make the big plays in the big 402 00:20:13,320 --> 00:20:16,200 Speaker 2: moments because they've had big moments in their high school 403 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:20,280 Speaker 2: softball or basketball or golf for tennis days, so I 404 00:20:20,280 --> 00:20:22,720 Speaker 2: think there's more of an interest there. I also think 405 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:27,360 Speaker 2: the NFL is so successful, Martha, because it fits our lives. 406 00:20:27,920 --> 00:20:31,080 Speaker 2: It's once a week, it's three hours, it's Sunday when 407 00:20:31,119 --> 00:20:34,440 Speaker 2: people want to be home, nest a little bit, get 408 00:20:34,440 --> 00:20:38,040 Speaker 2: ready for the week ahead, right, and there's a little 409 00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:41,440 Speaker 2: drama to it. You can have fun with a wager. 410 00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:44,520 Speaker 2: You've got these fantasy teams. Now that hey, the whole 411 00:20:44,520 --> 00:20:46,639 Speaker 2: family has a fantasy team. I want in on this 412 00:20:46,680 --> 00:20:49,840 Speaker 2: fantasy team, and how's my quarterback doing. So I think 413 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:52,800 Speaker 2: all of that together has helped the NFL grow. And 414 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:57,840 Speaker 2: now for competition, I mentioned flag football before. Flag football 415 00:20:57,880 --> 00:20:59,240 Speaker 2: is going to be in the Olympics in La in 416 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:02,280 Speaker 2: twenty twenty eight, there are more states now making flag 417 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:05,399 Speaker 2: football a varsity sport. So even though it doesn't have 418 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:09,080 Speaker 2: the physical tackling nature, it has all the other elements 419 00:21:09,080 --> 00:21:11,119 Speaker 2: of football, and a lot of girls are playing it, 420 00:21:11,320 --> 00:21:13,639 Speaker 2: so it's going to put even more fans from the 421 00:21:13,680 --> 00:21:16,280 Speaker 2: females in the country into the pipeline of being pro 422 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:17,040 Speaker 2: football fans. 423 00:21:17,920 --> 00:21:20,439 Speaker 1: So before we go onto the Olympics, because that's our 424 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:24,560 Speaker 1: next topic of okay to talk about, here are two 425 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:29,240 Speaker 1: crucial questions. What is your favorite Super Bowl snack? 426 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:33,679 Speaker 2: There we go. I'm a sucker for good pretzels or 427 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:36,080 Speaker 2: really good nachos, Like if you can just do like 428 00:21:36,119 --> 00:21:38,720 Speaker 2: some light nachos, like some chips with a little bit 429 00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:41,400 Speaker 2: of cheese on it, maybe some peppers or something like that, 430 00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:43,560 Speaker 2: something that's light and snackable. 431 00:21:43,960 --> 00:21:45,840 Speaker 1: You like every chip to have a little cheese on it, 432 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:46,280 Speaker 1: don't you? 433 00:21:47,320 --> 00:21:50,679 Speaker 2: Who doesn't? Ye? Let's be honest, okay, okay? 434 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:52,760 Speaker 1: And who is going to win the Super Bowl? 435 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:55,200 Speaker 2: Oh? I knew you were going to ask that question, 436 00:21:55,320 --> 00:21:56,879 Speaker 2: and you know I'm not going to answer that. 437 00:21:57,000 --> 00:22:00,600 Speaker 1: I know you cannot be partial. You must be impartial 438 00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:01,320 Speaker 1: in your job. 439 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:03,879 Speaker 2: That is correct. And here's what I want, Martha, I 440 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 2: want the ball to be in the air, the clock 441 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:09,440 Speaker 2: hits zero, and wherever it comes down determines who wins 442 00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:12,800 Speaker 2: and who loses. Then we've all had a great collective experience. 443 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:15,679 Speaker 2: Half the folks who leave unhappy, but we've all had 444 00:22:15,680 --> 00:22:22,399 Speaker 2: a great collective experience. That's what I hope. 445 00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:31,000 Speaker 1: So now to Milan Cortina Olympics. What is it like 446 00:22:31,119 --> 00:22:34,639 Speaker 1: to cover the Olympics. This is such a huge event, 447 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:39,119 Speaker 1: so many different sports. What kind of team is involved 448 00:22:39,240 --> 00:22:42,399 Speaker 1: creating that reporting and what's a typical day like. 449 00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:45,119 Speaker 2: Well, you've seen some of the people who cover the 450 00:22:45,160 --> 00:22:47,840 Speaker 2: Olympics and our Olympic team and are starts with our 451 00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:50,680 Speaker 2: leader Molly Solomon, and so many good people who work 452 00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:52,880 Speaker 2: year round on the Olympics, and the Olympics show up 453 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:57,200 Speaker 2: for seventeen days every two years. But at NBC it's 454 00:22:57,359 --> 00:23:00,919 Speaker 2: part of the everyday business cycle and work cycle and 455 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:03,840 Speaker 2: planning cycle. I mean, Martha, we're already planning for Los 456 00:23:03,880 --> 00:23:07,600 Speaker 2: Angeles in twenty twenty eight. It doesn't stop. Our group 457 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:10,679 Speaker 2: is ready and waiting for us when our other sport's 458 00:23:10,760 --> 00:23:12,960 Speaker 2: quiet down and then we can get into Olympic mode. 459 00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:17,400 Speaker 2: But there's a huge group in Connecticut at our NBC headquarters, 460 00:23:17,800 --> 00:23:21,479 Speaker 2: and there are another thousands so folks in country in Italy. 461 00:23:22,080 --> 00:23:25,159 Speaker 2: What's different about these games, Martha is they're spread out 462 00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:30,159 Speaker 2: because Milan, as many people know, the fashion and financial 463 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:34,639 Speaker 2: capital of Italy, doesn't snow much in Milan, so is 464 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:36,600 Speaker 2: barely snowed over the last three years in Milan. So 465 00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:39,360 Speaker 2: all the indoor events, most of them, I should say, 466 00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:43,840 Speaker 2: will be in Milan, right around the city. And the skiing, 467 00:23:44,080 --> 00:23:47,520 Speaker 2: the outdoor winter Olympic events are in the Dolomites, the 468 00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:51,159 Speaker 2: Alps that go across the border of northern Italy, so 469 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:52,160 Speaker 2: that's spread out there. 470 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:53,200 Speaker 1: How's this snow there. 471 00:23:53,520 --> 00:23:56,200 Speaker 2: It's not as much as you have on the East coast, 472 00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:59,199 Speaker 2: but it has snowed over the last week or so, 473 00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:01,600 Speaker 2: so I think that what was a concern maybe a 474 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:04,120 Speaker 2: month ago, is less of a concern as we get 475 00:24:04,160 --> 00:24:06,439 Speaker 2: closer to the game. That's one relief I think for 476 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:09,080 Speaker 2: the organizers. There's always some panic around the Olympics. If 477 00:24:09,119 --> 00:24:12,639 Speaker 2: I've learned anything in these six Olympic Games, I've been 478 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:15,720 Speaker 2: a part of that. There's always some last minute question, 479 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:18,159 Speaker 2: but it always seems to come off okay. But this 480 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:20,600 Speaker 2: will feel a little different as it's spread out. It's 481 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:22,040 Speaker 2: a lot of fun. You ask me what a typical 482 00:24:22,119 --> 00:24:24,440 Speaker 2: day is like. Ye, I stay on East Coast time, 483 00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:28,120 Speaker 2: even though Italy is six hours ahead of East Coast time. 484 00:24:28,520 --> 00:24:31,000 Speaker 2: I try to keep my body on East Coast time 485 00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:33,480 Speaker 2: because I finish at eleven o'clock at night on the 486 00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:35,439 Speaker 2: East Coast, which is five in the morning in Italy. 487 00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:39,080 Speaker 2: So try to come back at four or five hours 488 00:24:39,080 --> 00:24:42,920 Speaker 2: of sleep probably and start our daily process of watching 489 00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:46,800 Speaker 2: the events, preparing and reading everything about the next day's events, 490 00:24:46,840 --> 00:24:50,399 Speaker 2: meeting with our team, hosting the last part of our 491 00:24:50,440 --> 00:24:53,720 Speaker 2: afternoon show on NBC, and then a couple of hours 492 00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:55,720 Speaker 2: in between we get ready for the primetime show each 493 00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:59,720 Speaker 2: night and rinse and repeat for me thirteen nights this 494 00:24:59,800 --> 00:25:00,960 Speaker 2: year until the game's end. 495 00:25:01,160 --> 00:25:05,600 Speaker 1: Thirteen nights. Wow. So who are the key athletes being 496 00:25:05,640 --> 00:25:07,720 Speaker 1: watched at this Olympics? 497 00:25:08,760 --> 00:25:11,480 Speaker 2: So I have to start with Lindsay Vaughn, who I 498 00:25:11,480 --> 00:25:12,560 Speaker 2: think a lot of people know. 499 00:25:13,119 --> 00:25:15,879 Speaker 1: Incredible, right, incredible, bionic woman. 500 00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:20,199 Speaker 2: Amazing, she has a titanium knee and she's forty one 501 00:25:20,320 --> 00:25:22,560 Speaker 2: years old. That's way past the age you're supposed to 502 00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:25,960 Speaker 2: be competing in the downhill at the Olympics. But if 503 00:25:25,960 --> 00:25:29,720 Speaker 2: you've ever or met Lindsay Vaughn, we've ever been around her, 504 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:33,440 Speaker 2: you ever listened to her talk. Diama has a spirit 505 00:25:33,520 --> 00:25:36,679 Speaker 2: and a dynamo is the perfect description. She's one of 506 00:25:36,680 --> 00:25:40,439 Speaker 2: a kind and she has fought through and people said no, 507 00:25:40,640 --> 00:25:43,160 Speaker 2: Lindsay probably shouldn't be doing this, and she's doing it. 508 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:45,320 Speaker 2: And she's won downhill races this year. 509 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:47,280 Speaker 1: Oh I know, I saw. I saw the last one 510 00:25:47,280 --> 00:25:47,679 Speaker 1: that she won. 511 00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:50,320 Speaker 2: It incredible and she's competing at the top of her game. 512 00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:52,879 Speaker 2: So she and she'll, I'm not only compete in the 513 00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:55,720 Speaker 2: downhill health willing, she'll compete a couple of more events. 514 00:25:55,720 --> 00:25:59,600 Speaker 2: So we're going to see maybe Martha one of the 515 00:25:59,640 --> 00:26:03,240 Speaker 2: best stories we've ever seen at the Olympic Games sixteen 516 00:26:03,320 --> 00:26:06,639 Speaker 2: years after she started competing in the Olympics. So that's 517 00:26:06,720 --> 00:26:10,000 Speaker 2: quite something. And then also in skiing, Mikayla Shiffern, who 518 00:26:10,440 --> 00:26:13,960 Speaker 2: has won more World Cup skiing events than any man 519 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:18,800 Speaker 2: or woman ever. She had a real disappointing Beijing Olympics, 520 00:26:19,359 --> 00:26:21,919 Speaker 2: but there's never been a better slalom skier male or 521 00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:25,399 Speaker 2: female period. End of statement, no conversation. How old is 522 00:26:25,440 --> 00:26:29,240 Speaker 2: she and Mikaela is now just brushing close to thirty 523 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:31,640 Speaker 2: because she's an over thirty issues, just over thirty. She's 524 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:34,840 Speaker 2: probably at the last Olympics for her. She could ski 525 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:37,879 Speaker 2: in twenty thirty, but she's done. Injuries as well. The 526 00:26:37,920 --> 00:26:42,200 Speaker 2: disappointment of Beijing plus a very significant injury last year 527 00:26:42,240 --> 00:26:45,080 Speaker 2: and a half has kind of made it a bit 528 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:48,080 Speaker 2: of an uphill climb physically and mentally, and she's been 529 00:26:48,160 --> 00:26:51,199 Speaker 2: very open about the mental climb to come back, and 530 00:26:51,240 --> 00:26:53,840 Speaker 2: she's done it, and she's done it well, and she's 531 00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:57,760 Speaker 2: winning again in slalom and giant slalom. She was on 532 00:26:57,800 --> 00:27:00,960 Speaker 2: the podium in an event recently. She's got a great chance. 533 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:04,600 Speaker 2: So both of those skiers are probably two of the 534 00:27:04,640 --> 00:27:07,919 Speaker 2: most exciting stories in these Olympics that don't involve the 535 00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:08,560 Speaker 2: ice skaters. 536 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:12,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, incredible. What about the figure skating. 537 00:27:12,119 --> 00:27:17,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, Ilia Malanin is something. He really is something. He's 538 00:27:17,440 --> 00:27:22,159 Speaker 2: from Virginia. He is known as the quad God for 539 00:27:22,320 --> 00:27:26,080 Speaker 2: those quadruple rotation jumps that he does, and he does 540 00:27:26,119 --> 00:27:28,960 Speaker 2: so many of them. Martha. If you remember sim Own 541 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:33,320 Speaker 2: Biles in the Summer Olympics that her difficulty of routine 542 00:27:33,480 --> 00:27:36,400 Speaker 2: was so high that even if she missed a few, 543 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:39,000 Speaker 2: she was still going to win because it was so 544 00:27:39,080 --> 00:27:42,200 Speaker 2: much tougher than everybody else. Ilia is the same way. 545 00:27:42,280 --> 00:27:44,560 Speaker 2: He does more of those quads in a program than 546 00:27:44,600 --> 00:27:48,440 Speaker 2: anyone else. He does this in the middle of his program. 547 00:27:48,440 --> 00:27:50,359 Speaker 2: He'll be skating, he'll do a jump, he'll skate and 548 00:27:50,400 --> 00:27:55,320 Speaker 2: it is a backflip, and then continue skating. And he's remarkable. 549 00:27:55,359 --> 00:27:57,560 Speaker 2: What you said at the very beginning, you never imagined 550 00:27:57,600 --> 00:28:01,119 Speaker 2: athletes could do these kind of things. So he's a 551 00:28:01,240 --> 00:28:05,320 Speaker 2: favorite to win gold. And then there are multiple American 552 00:28:05,400 --> 00:28:09,480 Speaker 2: women including Amber Glen Alyssa Luke, who have a chance 553 00:28:09,520 --> 00:28:12,879 Speaker 2: to win gold. The US has been twenty years without 554 00:28:12,880 --> 00:28:16,040 Speaker 2: a medal in figure skating for the women, and there's 555 00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:19,600 Speaker 2: a great chance that it can change with multiple Americans 556 00:28:19,960 --> 00:28:22,000 Speaker 2: on the podium in figure skating. And we have a 557 00:28:22,040 --> 00:28:23,080 Speaker 2: great dance team too. 558 00:28:23,400 --> 00:28:25,840 Speaker 1: Who is the big competition this year which countries? 559 00:28:26,160 --> 00:28:28,800 Speaker 2: Japanese have a very strong team they have traditionally over 560 00:28:28,800 --> 00:28:31,280 Speaker 2: the years. You know the Russian athletes again, because of 561 00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:33,680 Speaker 2: the conflict of Ukraine, most of the Russian athletes will 562 00:28:33,680 --> 00:28:36,680 Speaker 2: not be in these Olympic Games. There are a few 563 00:28:36,880 --> 00:28:41,360 Speaker 2: who are operating as independent athletes. They vowed their word 564 00:28:41,400 --> 00:28:45,480 Speaker 2: against conflict and they have competed on their own. Ny'll 565 00:28:45,520 --> 00:28:48,200 Speaker 2: be an independent group of athletes, which has been the 566 00:28:48,280 --> 00:28:50,640 Speaker 2: case for the last couple of Games. But the Russian 567 00:28:50,680 --> 00:28:53,040 Speaker 2: skaters are not the factor that they have been in 568 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:55,720 Speaker 2: other Olympics. But the US does have a chance to 569 00:28:55,840 --> 00:28:58,520 Speaker 2: have multiple skaters on the podium for these games. 570 00:28:59,280 --> 00:29:02,840 Speaker 1: Oh great. So beyond the athletics, we all love hearing 571 00:29:02,840 --> 00:29:07,280 Speaker 1: the human interest stories, and you are so so good 572 00:29:07,280 --> 00:29:10,960 Speaker 1: at that. Is there one particular story that stands out 573 00:29:10,960 --> 00:29:14,280 Speaker 1: among the many that you've reported on over the years. 574 00:29:14,560 --> 00:29:15,480 Speaker 1: What's your favorite? 575 00:29:15,520 --> 00:29:18,880 Speaker 2: I'm going to give you a general category that I 576 00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:22,840 Speaker 2: think is pretty cool in the Winter Games. The number 577 00:29:22,840 --> 00:29:27,040 Speaker 2: of moms, the number of athletes who've had kids and 578 00:29:27,120 --> 00:29:30,160 Speaker 2: now come back, right. I think we all hear the 579 00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:32,560 Speaker 2: story of people have to work another job and have 580 00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:36,880 Speaker 2: to train and do all this, but the mental, the 581 00:29:37,000 --> 00:29:42,959 Speaker 2: physical journey to come back after motherhood and compete against 582 00:29:42,960 --> 00:29:47,800 Speaker 2: the best in the world is amazing. And seeing athletes 583 00:29:47,840 --> 00:29:50,680 Speaker 2: like Alana Meyers Taylor, who is a bop sled athlete 584 00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:53,920 Speaker 2: for the US, among the many, that's a wow to 585 00:29:53,960 --> 00:29:56,920 Speaker 2: me and I think that resonates so much with the 586 00:29:56,920 --> 00:29:59,240 Speaker 2: audience because so many people in the audience are moms 587 00:29:59,280 --> 00:30:03,080 Speaker 2: and know what they've gone through, or we as guys, 588 00:30:03,160 --> 00:30:05,960 Speaker 2: as we've seen what our moms went through and sacrificed 589 00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:08,160 Speaker 2: for us to grow up and be a part of 590 00:30:08,160 --> 00:30:10,640 Speaker 2: our lives and to have a young child, young baby, 591 00:30:10,640 --> 00:30:13,480 Speaker 2: and yet still compete at a super high level, best 592 00:30:13,480 --> 00:30:16,120 Speaker 2: in the world. It is amazing. So those are the athletes, 593 00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:17,880 Speaker 2: and every time I see that this is an athlete 594 00:30:17,920 --> 00:30:21,240 Speaker 2: who's the mom, immediately grabs my attention and you can't 595 00:30:21,240 --> 00:30:22,640 Speaker 2: help it but root and pull for them. 596 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:27,280 Speaker 1: Of all your Olympic assignments, which host city gave the 597 00:30:27,360 --> 00:30:28,720 Speaker 1: best opening ceremony? 598 00:30:29,200 --> 00:30:32,120 Speaker 2: The most exciting of the opening ceremonies? You know, there 599 00:30:32,200 --> 00:30:37,080 Speaker 2: was something magical about Rio. Rio was really really neat, 600 00:30:37,160 --> 00:30:39,800 Speaker 2: But Paris in the Rain was something I don't think 601 00:30:39,840 --> 00:30:43,280 Speaker 2: I'll ever forget. My co host on the opening ceremony, 602 00:30:43,760 --> 00:30:47,840 Speaker 2: Very Lucky Is with Peyton Manning and Kelly Clarkson and 603 00:30:48,560 --> 00:30:51,360 Speaker 2: as Celine Dion sang in the rain. 604 00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:54,320 Speaker 1: Down on the Loire where she was standing down there. 605 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:57,240 Speaker 1: I saw her. I saw her there. 606 00:30:58,080 --> 00:31:00,720 Speaker 2: And just to see her say and I you know, 607 00:31:00,800 --> 00:31:03,840 Speaker 2: I'm such a fan of Kelly Clarkson's I just I 608 00:31:03,920 --> 00:31:08,280 Speaker 2: think she's an amazing person, story artist, and just to see 609 00:31:08,400 --> 00:31:12,080 Speaker 2: Kelly who gets it right. We all see somebody on 610 00:31:12,120 --> 00:31:15,800 Speaker 2: the air who does what we do and if you 611 00:31:15,800 --> 00:31:18,760 Speaker 2: can see the admiration in their eyes for somebody who's 612 00:31:18,760 --> 00:31:21,000 Speaker 2: in the moment that sticks with you and to sell 613 00:31:21,040 --> 00:31:23,680 Speaker 2: in there for your watching. Kelly just tear up as 614 00:31:23,680 --> 00:31:25,800 Speaker 2: she was watching Selene, how beautiful it was, and she 615 00:31:25,840 --> 00:31:29,080 Speaker 2: could barely get the words out of how overcome she 616 00:31:29,320 --> 00:31:32,360 Speaker 2: was with the emotion of watching that. That will stick 617 00:31:32,400 --> 00:31:34,520 Speaker 2: with me, That will stick with me forever for sure. 618 00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:39,840 Speaker 1: Is it one other athlete who's prowess just blew your mind? 619 00:31:40,840 --> 00:31:42,800 Speaker 2: Yeah? Well, so I'll tell you somebody like a name 620 00:31:42,880 --> 00:31:45,240 Speaker 2: to watch, a name that maybe a lot of Americans 621 00:31:45,280 --> 00:31:48,640 Speaker 2: don't know. It's a young man named Jordan Stoles. He's 622 00:31:48,680 --> 00:31:51,360 Speaker 2: a speed skater and he has a chance to win 623 00:31:51,560 --> 00:31:54,280 Speaker 2: three or four gold medals. Now you hate to do 624 00:31:54,360 --> 00:31:56,600 Speaker 2: that to a young man and put that kind of 625 00:31:56,640 --> 00:31:59,440 Speaker 2: pressure on him, but he's done it at the World Championships. 626 00:31:59,680 --> 00:32:02,360 Speaker 2: He's the best in the world at five hundred meters, 627 00:32:02,400 --> 00:32:05,000 Speaker 2: one thousand meters and fifteen hundred meters. There are some 628 00:32:05,080 --> 00:32:07,520 Speaker 2: other team events he's got a chance to be and 629 00:32:07,560 --> 00:32:12,120 Speaker 2: he Martha, he's that quintessential Olympics story. He grew up 630 00:32:12,200 --> 00:32:14,960 Speaker 2: learning how to skate on a rink in his backyard, right, 631 00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:17,360 Speaker 2: So it's one of those where they shovel off the 632 00:32:17,920 --> 00:32:20,240 Speaker 2: snow and then there's the ice and he starts skating 633 00:32:20,240 --> 00:32:23,280 Speaker 2: as a little kid, and we could see him with 634 00:32:23,360 --> 00:32:26,200 Speaker 2: multiple gold medals. So he's speed skating could be one 635 00:32:26,200 --> 00:32:28,440 Speaker 2: of those really exciting ones. If you have people in 636 00:32:28,440 --> 00:32:31,920 Speaker 2: your life who love hockey, hockey's going to be great 637 00:32:32,120 --> 00:32:35,120 Speaker 2: because the USA and Canada, their women's rivalry is among 638 00:32:35,160 --> 00:32:38,000 Speaker 2: the best rivalries in any sport and has been for 639 00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:38,920 Speaker 2: the last twenty years. 640 00:32:39,000 --> 00:32:40,680 Speaker 1: My grandson's all excited about that. 641 00:32:41,560 --> 00:32:44,600 Speaker 2: Oh well, he should also be excited about the men's 642 00:32:44,640 --> 00:32:48,360 Speaker 2: hockey because the NHL players are coming back after missing 643 00:32:48,360 --> 00:32:51,360 Speaker 2: the last few Olympics. And there was a tournament last 644 00:32:51,400 --> 00:32:55,280 Speaker 2: year that was so good called the Four Nations Tournament. 645 00:32:56,000 --> 00:32:59,040 Speaker 2: All those nations and others are in the Olympics. People 646 00:32:59,040 --> 00:33:01,280 Speaker 2: who love hockey think this would be the best hockey 647 00:33:01,320 --> 00:33:04,760 Speaker 2: tournament wet in about a dozen years. Tell your grandson 648 00:33:04,880 --> 00:33:07,680 Speaker 2: don't miss any of the hockey. 649 00:33:07,880 --> 00:33:12,200 Speaker 1: So how do you think celebrity contributors like Snoop Dog 650 00:33:12,560 --> 00:33:16,080 Speaker 1: have influenced Olympics coverage. I mean, it was so charming 651 00:33:16,240 --> 00:33:20,280 Speaker 1: to watch Snoop deal with like you talk about the 652 00:33:20,320 --> 00:33:24,400 Speaker 1: families of the Olympiads. He paid attention to each and 653 00:33:24,600 --> 00:33:28,800 Speaker 1: every athlete, each and every family, He visited all the venues. 654 00:33:29,240 --> 00:33:32,640 Speaker 1: It was just incredible and he became extremely popular. I 655 00:33:32,640 --> 00:33:36,760 Speaker 1: think they made him coach of the Olympics team. 656 00:33:36,880 --> 00:33:38,840 Speaker 2: USA loved him and brought him in and he's been 657 00:33:38,880 --> 00:33:41,680 Speaker 2: around and the athletes love him. It's the same thing, 658 00:33:41,720 --> 00:33:49,400 Speaker 2: Martha that you know, people just gravitate towards celebrities, stars 659 00:33:49,440 --> 00:33:52,640 Speaker 2: from other realms who come into their world and just 660 00:33:52,680 --> 00:33:55,800 Speaker 2: have an appreciation for them. Like everybody knows who Snoop is, 661 00:33:56,080 --> 00:33:59,960 Speaker 2: everybody knows who Martha is. And for these athletes, it's 662 00:34:00,200 --> 00:34:02,520 Speaker 2: so cool that at their big moments, like some of 663 00:34:02,520 --> 00:34:05,640 Speaker 2: the biggest celebrities in America are, they're cheering them on, 664 00:34:06,400 --> 00:34:09,799 Speaker 2: rooting for them, wanting to see them succeed. And there's 665 00:34:09,800 --> 00:34:13,520 Speaker 2: also a multi generational I mean, moms love you, daughters 666 00:34:13,800 --> 00:34:17,720 Speaker 2: love you. They passed your cookbooks and your house ideas 667 00:34:17,719 --> 00:34:21,080 Speaker 2: from generation to generation. For Snoop. It's music that parents 668 00:34:21,120 --> 00:34:23,120 Speaker 2: grew up listening to, other kids know the words to 669 00:34:23,160 --> 00:34:25,839 Speaker 2: it right, So the parents are just as excited that 670 00:34:25,880 --> 00:34:28,799 Speaker 2: you all are there as the athletes, and that just 671 00:34:28,880 --> 00:34:32,479 Speaker 2: kind of makes that whole Olympic connection pretty special. I get. 672 00:34:32,719 --> 00:34:34,360 Speaker 2: I know now that I've been a part of this 673 00:34:34,360 --> 00:34:39,440 Speaker 2: for last decade, a very emotional Pollyanna feel to the Olympics. 674 00:34:39,480 --> 00:34:44,239 Speaker 2: But there's so much that separates us domestically and globally. 675 00:34:45,000 --> 00:34:47,200 Speaker 2: The Olympics bring us together, Like find the person who 676 00:34:47,280 --> 00:34:49,880 Speaker 2: roots against Team USA who lives here in America. Everybody 677 00:34:49,880 --> 00:34:53,920 Speaker 2: wants to see Team USA succeed, and everybody loves to 678 00:34:53,960 --> 00:34:56,640 Speaker 2: see the world come together. Martha, I'll never forget being 679 00:34:56,680 --> 00:35:02,360 Speaker 2: in Pumchang, South Korea for the Games twenty eighteen. And 680 00:35:02,440 --> 00:35:04,680 Speaker 2: as we all know, North Korea and South Korea share 681 00:35:04,680 --> 00:35:06,879 Speaker 2: a border, but don't get along. You can't cross from 682 00:35:06,880 --> 00:35:10,439 Speaker 2: one to the other. And here comes from my left 683 00:35:10,480 --> 00:35:13,000 Speaker 2: as I'm sitting there doing the opening ceremony with Katie Kirk, 684 00:35:13,520 --> 00:35:17,400 Speaker 2: here comes the unified Korean team and it's North Korean 685 00:35:17,440 --> 00:35:21,279 Speaker 2: and South Korean athletes together walking into the Olympics. And 686 00:35:21,360 --> 00:35:24,600 Speaker 2: that to me was one of the coolest things I'll 687 00:35:24,640 --> 00:35:26,759 Speaker 2: ever see in my life. And that's the power of 688 00:35:26,800 --> 00:35:30,600 Speaker 2: the Olympics. And while it has its imperfections, that's I 689 00:35:30,600 --> 00:35:32,880 Speaker 2: think what the power of sports can be as a 690 00:35:32,920 --> 00:35:34,040 Speaker 2: force for good in the world. 691 00:35:34,120 --> 00:35:37,440 Speaker 1: Are you looking looking forward to La the La Summer Olympics. 692 00:35:37,680 --> 00:35:40,239 Speaker 2: I am. First thing I'm looking forward to is a 693 00:35:40,239 --> 00:35:43,040 Speaker 2: great Olympics, seeing you and Snoop in Milan, and then 694 00:35:43,080 --> 00:35:45,000 Speaker 2: a couple of days off, just a couple of days 695 00:35:45,000 --> 00:35:48,680 Speaker 2: off for basketball season. But absolutely, as I said to 696 00:35:48,680 --> 00:35:52,800 Speaker 2: you before, our mind had already turned to La Martha. 697 00:35:52,920 --> 00:35:54,880 Speaker 2: It's been since two thousand and two since we had 698 00:35:54,920 --> 00:35:56,879 Speaker 2: an Olympics in America, twenty six years. 699 00:35:56,920 --> 00:35:58,799 Speaker 1: It's going to be so exciting. 700 00:35:59,400 --> 00:36:01,279 Speaker 2: And you go back to nineteen ninety six, the last 701 00:36:01,280 --> 00:36:03,759 Speaker 2: time we had an Olympics, a Summer Olympics in the US. 702 00:36:03,800 --> 00:36:07,680 Speaker 2: So you have got a third of our country that's 703 00:36:07,719 --> 00:36:12,200 Speaker 2: never been around for an Olympic Games in the United States, 704 00:36:12,680 --> 00:36:14,480 Speaker 2: and it's going to be so dark, cool, and we 705 00:36:14,560 --> 00:36:15,880 Speaker 2: are all excited for it. 706 00:36:16,120 --> 00:36:19,920 Speaker 1: Well, after World Cup in America this coming year, so exciting, 707 00:36:20,200 --> 00:36:22,319 Speaker 1: then we're going to have the Olympics. It's a very 708 00:36:22,320 --> 00:36:25,200 Speaker 1: exciting time. And I hope we get ourselves together for 709 00:36:25,280 --> 00:36:28,040 Speaker 1: all of this. So we're almost done because you have 710 00:36:28,600 --> 00:36:32,800 Speaker 1: to go, I have to go. But football, basketball, Kentucky, derby, golf, 711 00:36:32,840 --> 00:36:35,840 Speaker 1: all of the Olympic sports. What is the most. 712 00:36:35,680 --> 00:36:38,280 Speaker 2: Exciting for you to cover the next one? 713 00:36:38,560 --> 00:36:38,960 Speaker 1: Okay? 714 00:36:39,080 --> 00:36:43,280 Speaker 2: My personality is one that I like the next challenge 715 00:36:43,360 --> 00:36:47,719 Speaker 2: and I love to be as engaged in where I 716 00:36:47,800 --> 00:36:52,319 Speaker 2: am at that moment. So I really have adopted that strategy. 717 00:36:52,560 --> 00:36:54,560 Speaker 2: I love it because people are, as I said before, 718 00:36:54,680 --> 00:36:57,640 Speaker 2: people are giving their time to join us. I don't 719 00:36:57,640 --> 00:36:59,520 Speaker 2: want to be doing my third favorite sports. I want 720 00:36:59,560 --> 00:37:01,359 Speaker 2: to being engaged to where I am right now. 721 00:37:01,480 --> 00:37:04,760 Speaker 1: Are you a hero worshiper like I am? I worship 722 00:37:04,920 --> 00:37:09,120 Speaker 1: like the top guys, you know the top? Or are 723 00:37:09,160 --> 00:37:10,320 Speaker 1: you the team worshiper? 724 00:37:10,360 --> 00:37:14,319 Speaker 2: What are you? I'm the underdog, the underdog ruder. I 725 00:37:14,400 --> 00:37:17,040 Speaker 2: want the great story. I want the person who's against 726 00:37:17,080 --> 00:37:19,920 Speaker 2: all odds, who has done the klimb to be on 727 00:37:20,000 --> 00:37:20,760 Speaker 2: top of the mountains. 728 00:37:21,080 --> 00:37:22,960 Speaker 1: The same with the team, Same with the teams. 729 00:37:23,120 --> 00:37:25,799 Speaker 2: Yes, like New England. I know New England's won all 730 00:37:25,840 --> 00:37:28,279 Speaker 2: these Super Bowls and they are the biggest party guests 731 00:37:28,280 --> 00:37:31,080 Speaker 2: in the Super Bowl's history, but they were four wins 732 00:37:31,080 --> 00:37:33,480 Speaker 2: the last two years that if they win, that'd be 733 00:37:33,600 --> 00:37:37,600 Speaker 2: so cool. And it keeps my friends who are Jets 734 00:37:37,600 --> 00:37:39,560 Speaker 2: fans or the people who live in Michigan with me 735 00:37:39,640 --> 00:37:42,320 Speaker 2: at the Lions, the Buffalo Bills, like I want to 736 00:37:42,360 --> 00:37:44,600 Speaker 2: see those the Cleveland Browns. I want to see those 737 00:37:44,600 --> 00:37:46,799 Speaker 2: teams win the super Bowl one day because I love 738 00:37:46,840 --> 00:37:49,640 Speaker 2: to see the story of loyal to your team. They 739 00:37:49,880 --> 00:37:52,480 Speaker 2: let you down so many times, but it's all worth 740 00:37:52,520 --> 00:37:53,040 Speaker 2: it in the end. 741 00:37:53,480 --> 00:37:56,600 Speaker 1: So you speak with authority on nearly every single sport, 742 00:37:56,760 --> 00:37:59,160 Speaker 1: which sport would you say you still struggle with any 743 00:37:59,200 --> 00:38:00,359 Speaker 1: of them? Hard? 744 00:38:00,880 --> 00:38:03,279 Speaker 2: That's a great question. The hardest to call play by 745 00:38:03,360 --> 00:38:05,440 Speaker 2: play for is hockey. It is which I don't do. 746 00:38:05,560 --> 00:38:08,560 Speaker 2: I don't do anymore. I did on a little bit 747 00:38:08,600 --> 00:38:10,319 Speaker 2: of a little bit of a nudge and a bet 748 00:38:10,360 --> 00:38:12,600 Speaker 2: for my boss. I ended up trying it. I did 749 00:38:12,640 --> 00:38:14,840 Speaker 2: about a dozen games and I had a great experience 750 00:38:14,880 --> 00:38:17,359 Speaker 2: doing it. But that's the heart. That's the hardest one 751 00:38:17,400 --> 00:38:18,840 Speaker 2: to do. Speed. 752 00:38:19,080 --> 00:38:21,720 Speaker 1: The speed of it is that, Yeah, every. 753 00:38:21,520 --> 00:38:23,560 Speaker 2: Other sport you can glance down at your notes, Hockey 754 00:38:23,600 --> 00:38:26,319 Speaker 2: you can't. So you just have to be right there 755 00:38:26,360 --> 00:38:28,279 Speaker 2: and sharp. You can't search for a word for one 756 00:38:28,360 --> 00:38:32,719 Speaker 2: half second. Uh. In hockey, horse racing is one that 757 00:38:32,760 --> 00:38:34,560 Speaker 2: I wish I was around a little bit more. I 758 00:38:34,600 --> 00:38:37,319 Speaker 2: love the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, and don't get 759 00:38:37,360 --> 00:38:39,680 Speaker 2: to do many other events. And really I'm not calling 760 00:38:39,719 --> 00:38:42,759 Speaker 2: the race. I'm just around to host the day. As 761 00:38:42,760 --> 00:38:44,759 Speaker 2: you know, that's a five and a half six hour 762 00:38:45,320 --> 00:38:48,760 Speaker 2: slice of Americana. It's everything from you know, making making 763 00:38:48,800 --> 00:38:51,960 Speaker 2: a mint jewel up to talking about the breeding of horses. Right, 764 00:38:52,000 --> 00:38:54,360 Speaker 2: it's such a such a wide swath of thing and 765 00:38:54,400 --> 00:38:56,480 Speaker 2: the fashion and all of that. That's a sport. I 766 00:38:56,480 --> 00:39:01,560 Speaker 2: know your love of horses too. It's such a fascinating culture. 767 00:39:02,000 --> 00:39:05,640 Speaker 2: It is fascinating subset of people who dedicate their lives 768 00:39:05,640 --> 00:39:09,040 Speaker 2: to these beautiful equine animals to make sure that they 769 00:39:09,040 --> 00:39:12,640 Speaker 2: can compete and do it as safely as possible. I 770 00:39:13,320 --> 00:39:15,319 Speaker 2: love I love the people around the sport and their 771 00:39:15,320 --> 00:39:18,840 Speaker 2: dedication to it. Really enjoy getting to cover those people 772 00:39:18,920 --> 00:39:20,399 Speaker 2: and those athletes as well. 773 00:39:20,600 --> 00:39:23,560 Speaker 1: And is there one player that you wish you had 774 00:39:23,560 --> 00:39:26,520 Speaker 1: spoken to or still want to speak to in the 775 00:39:26,560 --> 00:39:27,760 Speaker 1: whole world of sports? 776 00:39:29,160 --> 00:39:32,640 Speaker 2: Wow, that's a that's a great question. I've been lucky 777 00:39:32,680 --> 00:39:34,680 Speaker 2: because most of my life, I've been able to interview 778 00:39:35,640 --> 00:39:39,640 Speaker 2: the biggest athletes who've been alive during my time. I'd 779 00:39:39,760 --> 00:39:42,839 Speaker 2: love to go back and speak with Babe Ruth I love. 780 00:39:43,000 --> 00:39:45,440 Speaker 2: I'd love to hear what it was like to be 781 00:39:45,640 --> 00:39:49,040 Speaker 2: this larger than life character in a time when it 782 00:39:49,080 --> 00:39:50,640 Speaker 2: was very hard to be larger than life because we 783 00:39:50,680 --> 00:39:53,160 Speaker 2: didn't have mass media and all of that. You know, 784 00:39:53,360 --> 00:39:55,399 Speaker 2: people always ask, like, you know, who had been your 785 00:39:55,440 --> 00:39:58,120 Speaker 2: ideal dinner guest. I always say Ronald Reagan because I 786 00:39:58,160 --> 00:40:00,120 Speaker 2: was a political science major in addition to be a 787 00:40:00,120 --> 00:40:03,400 Speaker 2: sports fan growing up. And Reagan, as you know, was 788 00:40:03,440 --> 00:40:07,640 Speaker 2: a sportscaster before he became governor of California and then president, 789 00:40:07,719 --> 00:40:10,440 Speaker 2: and he had just a keen ability to communicate and 790 00:40:10,440 --> 00:40:12,160 Speaker 2: connect with people. And I was always the person I 791 00:40:12,200 --> 00:40:15,879 Speaker 2: wanted to hear the how and why behind all of it. 792 00:40:16,080 --> 00:40:18,680 Speaker 1: Well, we could go on talking, talking, talking, I learned 793 00:40:18,680 --> 00:40:21,760 Speaker 1: a lot, and I look forward to seeing you in Milan. 794 00:40:23,320 --> 00:40:25,800 Speaker 2: I do as well. I have to tell you really quickly. 795 00:40:26,000 --> 00:40:28,880 Speaker 2: One of the highlights of my year last year was 796 00:40:28,920 --> 00:40:31,440 Speaker 2: getting to host the Today Show. Craig Melvin was on 797 00:40:31,560 --> 00:40:34,600 Speaker 2: vacation for a week. I got to host with Savannah. 798 00:40:34,680 --> 00:40:37,880 Speaker 2: It was right before Easter and you came in to 799 00:40:37,960 --> 00:40:41,200 Speaker 2: do a Martha Stewart segment and I was so excited. 800 00:40:41,239 --> 00:40:44,160 Speaker 2: I got to paint Easter eggs and I have that picture, Martha. 801 00:40:44,880 --> 00:40:46,080 Speaker 2: I've got to bring it so I can get you 802 00:40:46,160 --> 00:40:48,759 Speaker 2: and Savannah to sign it. I've got that picture of 803 00:40:49,080 --> 00:40:51,799 Speaker 2: me painting Easter eggs with you and Savannah, and I'm 804 00:40:51,840 --> 00:40:54,520 Speaker 2: just sitting there going what has happened to my life? 805 00:40:54,880 --> 00:40:57,719 Speaker 2: And I love it and I absolutely love it. So 806 00:40:57,760 --> 00:41:00,319 Speaker 2: it's such a treat to see you there and at 807 00:41:00,320 --> 00:41:02,920 Speaker 2: the Olympics, and I'm so looking forward to seeing you 808 00:41:03,000 --> 00:41:03,480 Speaker 2: and Snoop. 809 00:41:04,160 --> 00:41:06,880 Speaker 1: Maybe we'll catch a bowl of pasta in Milana. 810 00:41:06,960 --> 00:41:09,400 Speaker 2: That would be the highlight of you, the highlight of 811 00:41:09,480 --> 00:41:11,719 Speaker 2: my year. You're the best. Thank you for having me. 812 00:41:11,760 --> 00:41:14,319 Speaker 1: My best year, my best your family and UH and 813 00:41:14,520 --> 00:41:15,799 Speaker 1: UH and bone voyage. 814 00:41:16,680 --> 00:41:18,680 Speaker 2: Same same to you. Thanks Martha, se you soon.